Report of the Supreme Inner Guard, 2001-2002
As I stand here today I am so happy to look out over the crowd and see so many bright shining faces looking back at me and smiling . . . Wait a minute. I don’t see any faces. Oh no, am I sick again? What in the world is going on . . . Whew! Oh yeah, that’s right, I almost forgot, I’m not here. I mean I am here, but I’m not there. Here as in “here in St. Louis” writing this report. There as in “there at Supreme Session,” which is where I really want to be. I will have more on that later in this report.
As I sit down to write, there are a number of items I would like to touch on, but only so much time and space, so I will attempt to be brief. Actually that is probably a relief for whoever has to read this report, as well as for those who have to listen. Besides that, I generally ad-lib about half of my reports so I guess you guys are off the hook having to listen to me ramble on about whatever comes to mind at the moment. You know, that reminds me of a time when I was 7 years old. It seems that the circus was coming to town and the Three Stooges were on the bill . . . What, oh, er excuse me, back to the report.
This Supreme Year began in Kansas City with a beautiful installation ceremony. Although I was tromping around on a cane due to a knee injury, I was able to keep up with just about everything, at least until the closing march with it’s intricate dance steps and pirouettes which seemed designed to find out whether the crippled fat guy would spin himself into the ground during one of the 160 degree turns choreographed by our new dynamic duo, Vanessa and Bill. Thanks to my daughter Katie, who was my escort, I was able to remain on my own two legs (or at least the one leg that still worked).
Later that fall I was able to attend the Supreme Workshop in Kansas City. This was a very well planned and executed workshop, with a tremendous amount of information imparted by the presenters to the audience. The Hollywood Squares game at the close of the workshop was very entertaining, and even inspired a bit of discussion regarding several issues pertaining to the rules and regulations of the order. Those involved in the planning and presentation did a tremendous job, and I would hope that everyone would give them a round of applause for a job well done. In the future, I would urge all who have not done so to attend a Supreme Workshop.
In October I was able to attend the Associate Supreme Guardian’s Reception in Seattle. This was a wonderful event that was also well planned and executed. I was honored to be able to play the piano for the reception, and had a great time doing so. While in Seattle several friends and I were able to view the beautiful mountains from the window of Tomilynn's apartment where we all had lunch. This view is considered to be a great honor to those who either have never been to Tomilynn’s place, or have never been there when the weather was cooperating. Bill, you really must get over to Tomilynn’s place sometime to see this outstanding view, and Marlene, you must try to go on a day when the weather permits more than 18 feet of visibility. Okay, that’s a pretty weak stab at humor, buy hey, I’m in a weakened state (What’s the use of being sick if you can’t milk it for all it’s worth). Seriously, I was thrilled to participate in this outstanding event, and the hospitality of everyone in Washington was truly appreciated.
Following a break for the holidays, I attended the Supreme Visit in Illinois. This was a truly fun event with the Job’s Daughters of that jurisdiction putting forth a tremendous effort as they did a great job before, during and after their meeting. Congratulations to them on work well done. Susie, I know that with the support of the fantastic Illinois Job’s Daughters, your term can’t help but be a success.
As the year went on, I went on about my business back in Missouri. My daughter, Kim, was the Grand Bethel Honored Queen and she was doing a fantastic job. She was busy planning for Mini-Session, which is the name of the Grand Bethel session held in Missouri during the spring of the year. During this time, my knee continued to improve to the point where I no longer needed the cane to walk. In fact, I was eventually able to discard the brace I had also been wearing. Things seemed to be looking up. Little did I know what was in store for me?
On the evening of March 2, 2002, I was at home. It was a busy time of the year as I was helping Kim plan for her Mini-Session, as well as preparing for the mid-year Board of Trustees meeting the following week in Omaha. I thought that I would get in a bit of updating on the Missouri Job’s Daughters Website. As I was tapping away on the computer keyboard, suddenly it seems as if the screen seemed to jump from one side of my vision to the other. I blinked for a second, and said to myself, “Well, that’s not right.” I looked back at the screen and it did the same thing. I managed to walk to the bathroom, but my legs were very unsteady. The phone rang and it was one of the Bethel Guardians in Missouri seeking my help on a matter. I spoke with her for some time, getting dizzier all the while. Finally the call came to an end and I went to the bathroom and splashed some water on my face in an attempt to clear my head. Not only did this not work, things really hit the fan then. My field of vision completely broke down, with things jumping around, and I was unable to focus on anything. In addition, I became increasingly dizzy, and my legs refused to respond as I attempted to walk into the hallway. I managed to crawl to the living room, and called my wife, Toni, on the phone. Luckily Toni had just left the house to do some shopping, and I caught her while she was still in the driveway. Just the effort of doing this literally exhausted me and I lay there, totally spent. Toni came back in the house, helped me to the couch, and called 911. I was taken to the hospital where I was diagnosed as being diabetic (a condition I did not know I had), hypertensive (a condition I already knew existed), and was told that a CAT scan had indicated that I had a brain aneurysm. I was told it was in the worst part of the brain possible as far as possible surgery was concerned. I was placed in intensive care, given some heavy-duty medication, and there I basically waited to see what would come next.
What came next were some further tests. I was given an MRI to gain a clearer picture of the area of the aneurysm. What was discovered, however, was that the MRI did not absolutely indicate an aneurysm, but rather it could just be a funny shaped vein that on the lower resolution of the CAT scan had originally looked like an aneurysm. Now more tests were ordered. I underwent a spinal tap (a procedure not nearly as much fun as the movie of the same name), some neurological examinations, as well as an arteriogram. What was finally determined was that I did not have an aneurysm, but had contracted a brain virus that affected my vision, balance, and the working relationship between my limbs and brain. In essence, several parts of the brain were affected, and now I was looking at retraining other parts of the brain to take over for the affected areas. This would take some time, and it is a process that is still ongoing. Still, I have been ahead of the curve in many areas. My vision has improved to just about the point it was at before the virus struck. I am walking again, although my stamina, never the greatest, still gives me fits. I do have some vertigo issues, particularly when very tired, or in certain positions. This is a situation that the doctors have told me that my brain will compensate for, but will never completely go away. This seems to be the case, and as I have adjusted I have since been given clearance to drive, provided I constantly monitor myself and do not over extend myself to the point where I become so tired that I am a danger to myself or others. This has not been the easiest thing for me to do as I was always pretty much the stereotypical man doing all the driving. Now I have learned to say, “I’m tired and it is someone else’s turn to drive.” During my last visit to the doctor I was cleared to basically do everything I had been doing before my illness, with a single exception. The one thing the doctors have been adamant about is no flying. The effect of the pressurization process in the aircraft coupled with any possible turbulence could have a detrimental effect, possibly leading to another attack. The doctors will be constantly monitoring my future progress, and eventually I hope that they will allow me to make some short flights to test myself and work my way up to longer flights. The bottom line of all this is that I was not able to come to Supreme Session this year. This was a major disappointment to me as I was truly looking forward to the Session, and hoped to be able to visit with my many friends in Australia. I even tried looking into alternate ways to get down under, but unfortunately there are no aquatic automobiles capable of making the trip, and I was just not willing to sign up for 4 years in the Navy just to get a free voyage for the Session. So here I sit, writing this, and hoping that all of you are having a wonderful time. There is, however, a silver lining to all of this.
When you are lying in a bed, thinking about dying, some things suddenly become very clear. Many of the things that seemed important at one point do not seem so important now. Other items, once on the back burner, now take on a higher significance. My faith in God has intensified, and I truly believe that He was listening to the many prayers said for me. Family and friends, always a focal point of my life, became even dearer to me. I began to have a deeper appreciation of the Job’s Daughter activities I was missing while being in the hospital, and later home-ridden. For example, I missed the Mini-Session of the Grand Bethel of Missouri that was in large part planned by my daughter, Kim. She had worked so hard on this session and I knew it meant a lot to her for it to go well. I told her to go ahead and do the session as if I were there and not to worry about anything other than making the session a success. As things turned out, the session was a complete triumph, said by many to have been one of the best ever, and I was lucky enough to be able to follow the session by cell phone and later video. In some ways I was blessed to have to monitor the session in this manner. Had I been there, while it would have been a fun event for me, some parts of it could have been routine while the inevitable slip-ups would have been aggravating. As it was, I cherished every report about the session. I relished every little bit of news about the event. In fact, and I’m not sure that he knows this because I haven’t said anything about it before today, but I had been talking to Jeff Kitsmiller, PAGG of Missouri, on his cell phone while he was at the Session. We had reached the end of our conversation and had said our goodbyes, but he did not click the off button and his phone remained active. I sat and listened to the sounds of the session for about 15 minutes. It was just the sound of the usual hustle and bustle of virtually any session, girls and adults chattering away and generally having a good time, but to me it was the most delightful sound at the time. I know I should have hung up and not used up any more of Jeff’s airtime, but I could not help myself. I guess now that I have ‘fessed up, I should offer to pay for that quarter of an hour that meant so much to me. It would definitely be worth every dime as today it almost seems as though I was really there. Well, I was there, in spirit if not in body.
Being confined to home, I was completely dependant on my wife for even the most basic of necessities, and she demonstrated her love and commitment in more ways than I could ever imagine. My love for her is stronger than ever, and I bless the day that we met. My children have also pitched in and helped. Katie has run errands and has served as my eyes and legs during my convalescence. Kim has also done this in addition to serving as the de-facto Webmaster of the Missouri Job’s Daughters Website while I was unable even to sit at, or for that matter to focus on, the computer.
In addition, my devotion to Job’s Daughters has been intensified. The love I feel for the organization has been returned to me tenfold by the many prayers, cards and e-mails I received, and continue to receive, hoping for my recovery. There is a saying that many use when someone becomes associated with the Order, and that is, “You get out of Job’s Daughters what you put into it.” Folks, let me tell you that at least in my case that is a lie. I have received so much more from Job’s Daughters than I have put into it. That is an inequity I will attempt to balance a little better as I renew my dedication to the Order and will do to the utmost of my ability those things that I believe will help the Order not only survive, but thrive.
I would like to thank the rest of the Supreme Line as well as the Board of Trustees for being so understanding about my not being able to attend the Session. Our Board President Valerie Cooper has been very supportive and has kept me up to date on all Board activities via e-mail. In addition, many of the board members, as well as those from other committees, the Supreme Line, as well as Job’s Daughters and family from around the world have expressed their concern and support for me during this time. I cannot thank you enough.
To Vanessa and Bill, you have both done a tremendous job this year. You have taken the bull by the horns and done things that were necessary for the overall health of the Order. This is not always an easy or pleasant job and I commend you for your efforts. It has also been a pleasure during our times on the road together. Bill and I have roomed together a few times, and I thank him for putting up with me and my buzz saw snoring. Vanessa, I have just one question. Do they have Wal-Marts in Australia for you to shop in at midnight? Just wondering.
To Susie and Dave, good luck in the coming year. I know that you will do all in your power to help our Order grow and prosper. I also know that like Vanessa before her, Susie will assume the mantle of the Queen of Wal-Mart, and will make old Sam Walton smile, wherever he is.
To Jeannine and Bob, as the new kids on the block you have had a year of learning and growth. As it has for me, I know that this will serve you in good stead over the coming years.
To Shirley, we make quite a pair. They told us that we were both crazy to embark on this journey through the Supreme Line and I am beginning to believe they might have been right. Well, what the heck, if it takes being a bit crazy to try to get in a few good deeds for Job’s Daughters, then I say just call us crazy.
Finally, to everyone who has been so supportive of me during my sickness, thank you, thank you, and thank you. There are those who say that I was dealt a bad break this past year. I disagree. While no one likes to be sick, this illness may have been a blessing in disguise. I came away with a greater appreciation for my health, my friends and family, and with renewed vigor in regards to our wonderful Order. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Ashley Underwood, PAGG,
Supreme Inner Guard
